Project Details
Projekt
RP8: Emotional working memory training and cognitive bias modification in social network use disorder and gaming disorder
Applicants
Professor Dr. Hans-Jürgen Rumpf; Dr. Elisa Wegmann
Subject Area
General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
Term
since 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 411232260
According to dual-process models, explicit and implicit cognitions play a crucial role in the development of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions. Explicit cognitions may include use expectancies, emotion dysregulation, and inhibitory control, which have been shown to constitute risk factors for the development of mental disorders in general and addictive disorders more specifically. Implicit cognitions such as approach-avoidance tendencies, implicit associations, and experience of gratification and compensation are also associated with an increased risk of addictive disorders. At the same time, emotional Working Memory Training (eWMT) has shown effectiveness in reducing symptoms of mental disorders and - according to a first pilot study - in Internet-use disorders. In addition, improved inhibitory control compared to a placebo group was observed. Cognitive bias modification (CBM) has proven to be effective in the field of alcohol use disorders, and a pilot study has shown initial evidence of reduced automatic action tendencies to approach gaming cues in excessive multiplayer online gamers. RP8 aims to expand on the findings of the first funding period regarding the role of explicit and implicit cognitions. According to preliminary findings (RP8 first funding period), positive and negative use expectancies as well as experienced gratification and compensation differ significantly between non-problematic, risky, and pathological social network users. Moreover, implicit associations were highest in pathological social network users, followed by risky and non-problematic users. In the second funding period, in a proof-of-concept study, we will investigate effects of eWMT and a CBM approach on emotion dysregulation, approach-avoidance tendencies, implicit associations, inhibitory control, use expectancies, and the experience of gratification and compensation. We assume that eWMT will show stronger effects on explicit than on implicit cognitions and that CBM will show stronger effects on implicit than on explicit cognitions, both in individuals with social network use disorder (SNUD) and individuals with gaming disorder (GD). We will use a cross-sectional, between-within-subjects design including individuals with SNUD (n=68) and individuals with GD (n=68). Participants will be randomly assigned to the eWMT or CBM condition. Training will take place in the laboratory on two days. In an exploratory part of the study, effects of extended training at home will be tested in a follow-up after one month. RP8 has strong relationships with RP2: Both research projects investigate the effects of CBM on affective and cognitive mechanisms in individuals with GD. Furthermore, synergistic effects are expected with RP5 and RP11, both addressing inhibitory control in SNUD.
DFG Programme
Research Units
